Abstract: In this paper, a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was established for the determination of 18 phthalates, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 7 polychlorinated biphenyls in edible oils. The sample was ultrasonically extracted with acetonitrile saturated by n-hexane, and the extract was cleaned up by solid phase extraction (SPE), separated on a DB-5 capillary column, ionized by electron impact and quantitated in the selective reaction monitor (SRM) mode. Good linearity was observed for all the analytes in the concentration ranges tested (0.04–2 mg/kg for phthalate acid esters, 1–40 mg/kg for diisodecyl phthalate (DINP), and 0.01–0.4 mg/kg for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls), with correlation coefficients more than 0.99. The limits of detection (LODs) were 8 μg/kg for DINP and 0.08–2 μg/kg for the other compounds. The recoveries ranged from 62.7% to 128.3%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.1% to 13.6% (n = 6). The method was sensitive, accurate, simple, rapid and thus suitable for the detection of phthalate acid esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in edible oils.

Key words: gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, edible oils